5+6 November 2023
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a public process of analysing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic and social objectives that are usually specified through a political process. Although acceptance of the MSP approach has increased worldwide, most countries still need support to develop their marine spatial plans.
The Updated MSProadmap, a joint initiative by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) and the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the European Commission (DG MARE) to accelerate MSP processes worldwide, identified an action to ‘build a network of Regional MSPforums and Platforms’ together with interested regional institutions working on MSP.
In Africa, all Regional Seas that have African parties are engaged in MSP initiatives: the Abidjan Convention Secretariat, the Nairobi Convention Secretariat and the Priority Actions Programme Regional Activity Centre (Barcelona Convention). Besides, the African Union Blue Economy Strategy urged Member States to institutionalise MSP to allocate specific spaces for maritime activities and ecosystem conservation.
It is within this context of multiple interconnected initiatives that the institutions above-mentioned decided to join forces and co-organise the 2nd MSPforum for Africa.
Co-organisers:
- UNESCO Dar es Salaam Field Office (co-chair)
- IOC-UNESCO and its Sub Commission IOCAFRICA (co-chair)
- African Union – Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy Directorate
- African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources
- Nairobi Convention Secretariat (co-chair)
- Abidjan Convention Secretariat
- Priority Actions Programme Regional Activity Centre – Barcelona Convention
The event is co-funded by the Government of Sweden as a contribution to implement the Ocean Decade Africa Roadmap and the Updated MSProadmap.
The following initiatives are also supporting the event:
